Page 29
Story: Three Mates & A Tribrid
The process of waking up was much slower today. It didn't have anything to do with the fact that I'm burying my best friend and being crowned Luna over my mate's respected groups. No, not all.
"Rose....Rosie....Rosebud," Atticus called, pushing my body back and forth from the fetal position I was currently in.
"Did you seriously just call me the name of the dog in Air Buddies?" I asked him with a trace of humor until my eyes widened. "Holy shit, we're about to have a litter of puppies!" I exclaimed in horror and awe.
"I have no idea what that is, but you seriously have to get out of bed, Roe." I gave him a soft glare before laying back down and dragging the comforter back over my head. He heaved a sigh before grabbing my foot from underneath the covers and pulling me clean of the bed and into his arms.
"I don't want to go today. I'm not ready," I said, struggling to get out of his grip. He wasn't even using magic to restrain me. Now, this is just embarrassing.
"You're never going to be ready, but you have to be," He said, giving me sorrowful eyes and a sad smile.
I sighed, knowing he was right but not wanting to admit it. I don't even want to acknowledge that Jackson is dead...and it's because of me. Not to mention, I was about to be responsible for hundreds of people.
"Fine. I'll go, on one condition..." I said slowly.
Atticus furrowed his eyebrows and narrowed his eyes at me. "And what's that?"
I smiled a toothy grin. "Fix me some breakfast... you know, the one where you make a smiley face with my eggs and bacon," I said, giving him my best pout and puppy dog eyes.
He shook his head, laughing as he set me back down on the floor. "You're so predictable."
I furrowed my eyebrows but followed him as we made our way to the kitchen. Axel and Everett's heads snap up upon hearing us enter. They looked as if they were waiting on some news that I was unable to give them because I had no fucking idea what was going on.
Atticus smirked as he looked between me and the guys. "Pay up, Everett."
I openly gaped at my three mates who were exchanging money. "Wha-Whats's going on?"
Axel looked up and gave me a cocky smirk and a wink. "Sorry, Princess. The boys and I decided to place money on what you would probably say this morning."
I looked over at Atticus and Everett. "Are you fucking kidding me right now? You placed bets on me?" I shook my head in disbelief. "And I don't even get a cut of it? That sounds unfair!"
The room was plunged into silence as the guys looked a little ashamed to be placing bets on their pregnant mate. A laugh ripped through the tense silence of the kitchen as I blinked back into reality.
I looked over half expecting it to be Atticus since he can't take anything seriously, but no, it was....Everett? The three of us looked as Everett was bent over laughing his ass off.
"Guys, please don't tell me you took my shrooms stash from my old house and mistaken it for edible mushrooms," I said with a bit of anxiety.
"No...wait you have a shroom stash?" Atticus asked with a shocked expression.
I shrugged. "What? I was being experimentive in my 20s."
Axel looked over at me in amusement. "You're only 21."
I shrugged again, looking back at Everett as he finally calmed down form his laughing fit. "You're just so fucking cute. When you get mad, I try to be serious but I just can't help it," Everett said, giving me a panty-dropping smile.
I felt my heart thud in my chest before I wrapped a leash around it. "I'm a tribrid, I'm not cute, I'm ruthless," I said, adopting a confident, demanding attitude.
"Weren't you the one who just asked for their eggs and bacon to be arranged in the shape of a smiley face?" Atticus asked in utter amusement.
I growled in frustration. "Uhh! Whatever, I'm going to get ready." I turned around to walk away before I stopped again. "Umm...what do I wear to a funeral. I've never been," I whispered, still looking away from the guys.
"Don't worry, baby girl. We got one of the females from the coven to pick out an outfit for you. It's on the dresser upstairs." I nodded my head before exiting the room to take a shower.
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"I look like a black olive," I said, scrunching my nose up in disgust. I don't know where or why the guys picked this girl to choose my outfit but damn was it bad. Oh, well. This wasn't a fashion show I was attending unless Jackson was planning on resurrecting and scoring me a 4/10 on presentation.
"You look beautiful," Axel said, brushing out my hair.
I smiled at him through the reflection. "I'm glad I have you guys by my side. I don't know if I'd be able to handle this without you."
Everett walked in, landing a kiss on my temple as he stood off to the side watching. "We're lucky to have you, Rose. It'll be okay. The crowning ceremony won't be until later tonight."
"And when's that?" I asked in a not so thrilled voice.
The guys looked over at Atticus who was buttoning up his shirt, covering up the eight pack that I love so much. "The feast starts at 10, but the ceremony won't begin until midnight."
I nodded my head which earned me a hair pull from Axel to hold still. I glared at him through the mirror which he responded with a smirk. Asshole.
After all the guys dressed up in button-downs, while I wore this atrocious dress, we teleported to where the ceremony was being held.
It was nice, almost too nice. I felt uncomfortable wearing this dress.
What if I needed to fight? Oh, right...I'm pregnant.
Still, I don't like playing dress-up, no matter the situation.
People were starting to gather around the area. Most were vampires who bowed their heads upon seeing Axel standing there. I rolled my eyes because I honestly didn't understand the point of hierarchy. This was all so new to me, and I didn't like it.
I looked back down at the fugly dress that was wrapped around my body like cellophane wrap. I snuck a glance at the guys to see if they were watching as I chanted under my breath. "Politono rementu."
The dress slowly replaced itself with leggings, a maternity t-shirt, and an oversized biker jacket. Now, this is what Jackson would like. Not that obnoxious fabric that dared call itself a dress.
I walked away from the guys to the area that they would bring Jackson's body to. Supernatural funerals aren't the same as human funerals. We don't see the body before it's buried, and in Jackson's case, there wouldn't be much left anyway.
"This outfit looks much more you anyways," Axel whispered in my ear, placing a strong hand on my lower back.
Everett came up next to him, nodding his head. "Yeah, you look more comfortable in it. I felt so bad since we've left, about you wearing that other dress." I smiled at my mate's concerns about my comfort level.
"Doing magic at a funeral, I see Ms. Rose," Atticus teased, coming up on my other side.
I laughed lightly, shaking my head. "How did I get stuck with you three?"
"You know, I'm pretty sure you said that around the time we first met," Axel pointed out, rubbing soothing circles on my waist.
I could tell the guys were trying to distract me, but it was a distraction that I welcomed.
Music played softly in the background, which signaled that the burying ceremony has begun. I stood back, not wanting to sit down since this was the last time I'd ever see him again, even if I couldn't physically see him.
The ceremony was beautiful, but I knew Jackson would be scrunching up his nose in disgust at it. I didn't tell my mates that though. They went out of their way to plan this out for Jackson...and for me. I needed closure...and I think I've found it.
"You ready to be the center of attention tonight, Princess?" Axel asked, sliding up next to me as we walked to a clearing to teleport back home.
I shook my head and heaved a sigh. "Hell, no. But I know that I have to. Not just for me, but for you. And I would do anything for you guys."